Awards

Ohio Tree Farm of the Year

This award annually recognizes an outstanding Tree Farm in Ohio. The Tree Farm must be certified by the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) by meeting their standards and following their mission "to promote the growing of renewable forest resources on private lands while protecting environmental benefits and increasing public understanding of all benefits of productive forestry." Each summer a call is sent to all Tree Farm Inspectors for nominations for the award. The Awards Committee reviews these nominations and then makes a visit to the Tree Farms. The nominations are then presented to the full Ohio Tree Farm Committee at the last meeting of the year and a selection is made for the coming year. The award is presented at the Tree Farm Luncheon at the Ohio Forestry Association Annual Meeting in the spring. A Tree Farm Tour is scheduled for the fall to show the high quality of management and share experience and knowledge with other Tree Farmers and the public. The Tree Farm will be considered for nomination for the ATFS Regional Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. Ohio is in the North Central Region that includes eleven (11) states. The four regional winners are then candidates for the National Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year.

This award annually recognizes a Tree Farm Inspector who has done an outstanding job of interacting with landowners through inspections, certifications, and public outreach. Each fall the Area Chairs are asked for nominations that are presented to the full Ohio Tree Farm Committee at the last meeting of the year where the selection is made. The award is presented at the Tree Farm Luncheon at the Ohio Forestry Association Annual Meeting in the spring. The Inspector will be considered for nomination for the ATFS Regional Inspector of the Year. Ohio is in the North Central Region that includes eleven (11) states. The four regional winners are then candidates for the National Outstanding Inspecting Forester of the Year.